Fishtown Community Building Through Music
A few years ago, we moved our music lessons business out of our basement and into a beautiful space down the street in Fishtown. Feeling inspired by my own upbringing next to a fine arts and music institute for kids and adults, I decided to start teaching music classes to the smallest of our neighbors! I wanted to bring the experience of walking past an open window to the sounds of clarinets, opera singing, piano practice, and plays into my Fishtown community. Cracking open the windows on a warm June day, the sounds our first music classes and lessons were heard in Fishtown in 2014.

Bringing high quality music was a focus of mine. I had been to some great music classes throughout the city in my nannying days, and I realized how deeply kids responded to the ones with genuinely good music and real instruments. With this in mind, I created a flexible routine that engages kids through props, promotes spontaneous interaction between teacher and child, and trains the ears to hear pitches using Solfege, familiar songs, and other music-based exercises. At the center of my classes are our carefully selected teachers, often performers in Philly and teachers with a talent for connecting with kids. They play their guitar (and sometimes ukulele!), while performing and guiding children through various kids songs, rhymes, and our unique “Hello” and “Goodbye” songs.

Each week, old standards and new children’s songs are presented. With a scarves, pinwheels, parachutes, puppets, shakers, various world instruments, a big piano, and more, we explore what it means to play music. Interactive pieces shift from the most basic of kind to more complex dances and movement games as youngsters progress through the months. Heavily based on individual groups, these classes are adaptable – a good fit for many different ages.

Parents, sit back and enjoy as you play with your baby through this guided 45 minutes of fun! You can read our march newsletter below. Stroller parking is available.

Let’s usher in the Spring with some music making at Philly Music Lessons! As usual, we’ll be meeting weekly for classes in Fishtown and in South Philly (4PM Fridays in Fishtown and 9AM Wednesdays in South Philly). Our multi-aged classes are designed for 0-3 year olds and make for an awesome part of a day with kids – moms, dads, nannies, and other caregivers are welcome. With singalongs, movement activities, tons of props and assorted musical instruments, we change it up as we keep a base line of familiar kid favorites!

March in Fishtown | $40Sign Up
Fridays @ 4PM:
March 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 30th*Please note: NO CLASS on the 23rd!

Address:
2111 East Susquehanna AvePhiladelphia, PA

March in South Philly | $40Sign Up
Wednesdays @ 9AM:
March 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th

Address:1548 S. 13th StreetPhiladelphia, PA

Class Basics:

$10/class with a monthly sign up – Includes one makeup for missed classes per month, which can be used as credit towards upcoming sign ups or any classes scheduled at either location

$12 drop-ins with advanced notice only – Email ahead of time to let us know when you’ll be coming (please check with us to see if there’s space!)

First timers FREE

Online invoicing for monthly sign ups and drop-ins – Can pay online or make in-person payments

How to Foster Good Habits and Develop Practice Strategies for Music Lessons

As a parent, it’s natural to want your child to learn good study habits and time management skills. Taking music lessons can be a great way to develop these skills, but they can look different when studying music rather than studying standard school subjects, such as math, science, or history. If you’ve never studied an instrument yourself, it can be hard to know how to help your child foster these unique skills. From the teachers at Philly Music Lessons, know that encouraging your kids to be good music students doesn’t have to take a lot of work, but it can go a long way.

Keep a Routine

When it comes to studying music, consistency is key. Some ways to maintain consistency in your child’s studies include:

Maintaining a regular lesson schedule with as few changes as possible.

Setting up a practice schedule that occurs at the same time for the same length every day (for example, a ½ hour of practice at 6 pm every weekday).

Keeping track of lessons, practice sessions, and progress in a notebook or journal.

Building these regular habits will allow your child to see the fruits of their labor much sooner. If their practice and lesson schedule is too sporadic, they won’t retain what they’ve learned as well, and musical concepts will need to be repeated more frequently than necessary. To build the ideal practice schedule for your child and their instrument, have a conversation with their teacher about what will work best.

Similarly, make the process of practice and lessons fun and welcoming. If possible, set up a space at home just for your child’s practice. Furthermore, you can incentivize practice and lessons with compounded rewards, such as small treats, tokens, or activities.

Be a Part of the Process

While your child’s study of music is unique and individual, you can have a healthy involvement in your child’s studies. Check in with their teacher after each lesson to understand what they’ve learned that week and what they should be practicing. Sit with your child while they practice if they’d like that, and encourage them to perform selections for your family once they’ve grasped a new concept. Celebrating small milestones will encourage them to work through the next step, which in turn will develop their work ethic and endurance.

Trust Their Teacher

We love our kids, and we think the world of them and their abilities. As a result, it can be all too tempting to push them into working on songs or auditioning for performance opportunities they’re not quite ready for. If your child’s teacher wants them to wait for certain songs or opportunities, discuss it with them. Their teacher is a trained professional who also wants the best for them, so the more you can be patient and encourage your child to do the same, the sooner they’ll be able to play that song or go for that competition.

It would be wonderful if all of our kids started music lessons by being focused, determined, and skilled. Studying music, however, is not solely about fostering talent; studying music works to develop these skills in kids, which will help them succeed later in life. Keep this in mind, and your child’s music lessons will go from a chore to a rewarding process that’ll last them a lifetime.

Beautiful Tone, Beautiful Heart!

Suzuki-Style Violin Class for Ages 3-5

“Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”

Saturdays at 11 AM at Philly Music Lessons
October 1st – November 19th
$198 for 8 classes
(Includes a 3 month violin rental fitted for your child’s size at the first class)

Though many different curiosities are piqued when children come into our space and see instruments on the walls and in our practice rooms, violin seems to be of particular interest over and over again! Thus we’ve decided to offer a Suzuki-style violin class for kids ages 3-5. With a violin rental embedded into the cost, kids have the opportunity to experience the Suzuki method and other violin group work intended to introduce young bodies and minds to the violin. Read more about our kids violin class here!

Music Exploration Ages 3-5

Tuesdays at 4PM
October 4th – November 22nd
$128 for 8 classes

Our music exploration class is an intro to music beyond baby and toddler classes. Kids will explore ukuleles, their voices, piano techniques, and percussion patterns to gain experience with string instruments, solfege (ear training), and rhythm training. This class lays the groundwork for private lessons in a variety ofinstruments and is simply a fun way to explore music! Each class concludes with an art project that will reinforce a new concept each week.

Baby and Toddler Music Classes Ages 0-3

Ongoing Weekly classes at 10 AM Wednesdays and Saturdays
First time FREE! $10 drop in all September

Mommas, daddies, nannies, grandparents, and caregivers can join other families in the Fishtown area for weekly music classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10 AM. Babies just a few months old will enjoy classes as much as the toddlers. All classes are drop-in this September, with a special rate of $10 per class (normally $15). Come October, we’ll be moving to a monthly sign up (10 kids max, unlimited makeups) to encourage regular friends and faces, and to allow groups of babies to grow and learn together!

One of the stars of the Muppets is a character named Animal. Animal is a drummer, who many would argue, embodies the general perception of a drummer in the U.S. He is wild, impulsive, and intense. This perception is not always based on how the world’s best drummers actually are, but more on the energy that they bring to musical groups and events. I hope to present a picture of some of the skills needed in order to become a great drummer / musician / person and how learning these skills can create rich learning experiences for children.

Drumming is not really wild – it just feels that way…

The world’s best drummers do not hit the drums randomly or haphazardly – they are very calculated and deliberate. In order to play their instruments well and to find new ways to be expressive during performances, they have to practice and train. Great drummers don’t tend to be like sprinters in a race, they tend to be more like marathon runners who take their training and preparation seriously. Like runners, drummers have to learn how to relax while moving, to learn how to breathe well while remaining active, how to use healthy postures, and how to get lost in their activity so that they are not “thinking” about it – but instead doing it with an automaticity that enables them to reflect on other things while they are being active. Drumming like many other physical activities can be very intensive at times – however, great drummers learn to be aware of their bodies and avoid becoming injured in spite of an increase in the intensiveness.

Drumming is natural…

There are many individuals who see a person playing a drum set and immediately think to themselves, “I would never be able to do that! It requires too much coordination – and I can barely clap on rhythm!” I would argue that when discussing who can drum, we enter a Nature vs. Nurture discussion. I firmly believe that more people in the U.S. do not feel comfortable drumming or using rhythm because of our cultural experiences related to rhythm. Throughout the world, there are toddlers and small children playing syncopated rhythms with ease. Is it because their genes predispose them to rhythmic intelligence or is it because they were exposed to seeing adults exhibiting behaviors and began to learn how to do what the adults around them were doing? What were some of the things that your child was exposed to and how has this exposure affected what they can do – the skills that they have?

Clearly, any art form requires an investment of time and benefits from guidance from experienced professionals; however, most children are naturally drawn to hitting a cylinder with their hands or with sticks. I would argue that it is as natural for people to drum as it is for us to run, but that our cultural experiences affect our exposure and comfort with drumming. It seems to move away from being an activity that you can engage at your own level into a skill that you either can or cannot do. It is similar to a person who enjoys drawing (and has a natural impulse for it) being discouraged from drawing because they don’t draw well enough to meet another’s standards or a person being discouraged from dancing because they cannot execute the dance move as expected – we often prioritize a person’s ability to perform over their desire to do something that they enjoy and that makes their lives richer (and could become something that they would be better at with time and work).

Great drummers listen well and express themselves appropriately…

Drums are very powerful instruments – an average person can create deafening sounds without the need for electricity. So, drums should be treated like other powerful things – tools, money, the stove, etc. You can hurt and offend people with loud erratic drumming. Most professional drummers tend to have a low tolerance for loud erratic drumming. They understand that it is possible to create something beautiful and enjoyable with a little bit of effort. The experience could be compared to watching a child color outside of the lines in a coloring book. Most adults will (at some point) draw attention to the lines of the picture and encourage children to use the lines to guide their coloring rather than disregarding them. Great drummers learn to be considerate to listeners by adjusting the volume of their drumming to a level that is appropriate to the occasion. A person who knows how to control their volume, but chooses not to, is being immature and inconsiderate of the listeners and musicians that they may be performing with. Showing off at the expense of the success of the group is seen in most social situations. Learning to be considerate to listeners and other musicians is a skill that demonstrates and fosters maturity in individuals of all ages.

When a drummer becomes aware of ways to channel these powerful instruments, then they can begin to dance musically. They can learn basic steps / movements and then they can add expressive touches and / or improvise something that is complimentary to the song. The great drummer dances with the other musicians – this sometimes leads the musicians to perform things that go beyond what was rehearsed. As a drummer, I have often been inspired to do something that was not rehearsed during a performance and responded to other musicians who began to do something that went beyond what was rehearsed.

Is drumming on buckets the same as playing Guitar Hero?

Although it may seem as though drumming on a bucket is similar to playing a musical video game, the skills introduced and reinforced are dramatically different. A video game introduces and reinforces the skill of pushing the appropriate buttons when prompted by the game. When a person is actually playing an instrument, they learn to repeat particular movements in a specific order in order to produce the musical sound. The sound produced is consistent when the movement / behavior is exhibited (muscle memory). For example, if you play a C note on an acoustic piano, it will create a sound – that sound will not change. However, it is possible to produce different types of sounds using devices that can be connected to instruments. Guitarists often use foot-switch pedals in order to change sounds. There are skills required to use them effectively – a video game does not introduce or reinforce these skills.

Drumming on buckets is not equivalent to playing instruments, but it does offer transferrable skills. One skill that is introduced and reinforced with bucket drumming is awareness of hitting versus not hitting. In visual art, artists learn to become aware of negative space. In drumming, not hitting the drum can be seen as a musical negative space. You don’t hit the drum in order to create the quiet portions of a rhythm – instead, you resist hitting. This silence / break in the rhythm is as important as the hits. In fact, intentional breaks are what separate an intentional rhythm from haphazard noise. This awareness is necessary for playing any instrument – to play or not to play… SELF CONTROL

Another skill that can be learned from bucket drumming is the skill of experiencing a repeated pattern becoming the foundation for song. Many popular songs have 4 or more chords that are repeated. The melody of the song is performed on top of this repeated pattern. After a child / person learns to perform a rhythm, it is important for them to learn how to relax into the rhythm so that they can continue to repeat the pattern while other performers do something different that is complimenting the rhythm. RELAXING

Finally, bucket drumming offers opportunities for creativity. Once a child has learned how to relax into a rhythm/ song, then they can begin to explore being creative. They can try to develop their own “new” rhythms and they can begin exploring ways of complimenting rhythms with other patterns or with improvisational breaks. CREATIVITY

In summary, Drumming teaches countless invaluable skills. A child who learns how to drum, doesn’t make noise, they make art!

Father’s Day Packages and Discounts

Dad plus Family:
Group lessons family prices:
10% off the normal group lesson price
(Father and child, Father and spouse, or the whole family)

We have a lot of options for families at Philly Music Lessons. Learning together is a unique and memorable way to explore music. With discounts for multiples, our private lessons can be made joint. Two or more students can take lessons together, and for the upcoming occasion, it may just be a Father and child duo. Families taking joint lessons get an extra bonus on top of our discounted group rates, with an additional 10% off.

A local Philly parent’s blog visited our space for a unique Father-sons jam session for Father’s Day. Guided by our teacher, Phil, the family met to rock out and test some of the studio instruments in honor of Dad and his passion for music (Weezer in particular). The jam included an electric bass, ukulele, full-upright piano, drum kit, guitar, 1/2 sized violins, a harmonica, and various other musical knick-knacks. A bit like our Big Kid’s music class, the jam session was highly focused on the exploration and strongly encouraged experimentation and collaboration. Phil provided some concrete musicality, and everyone chimed in and took turns in the spotlight. Check out the video above (made by HipsterHenry). You can also read about HipsterHenry’s experience at our space at Hipsterhenry.com. The blog provides a lot of really good, parent-tested things to do with kids around Fishtown, Northern Liberties, and Philadelphia at large. We’re grateful to have received a visit!

In addition to this unique jam session, parents and children pair up frequently to learn a new instrument together in joint-lessons. Its also pretty common for siblings, and/or parents to take lessons at the same time (with two different teachers for convenience or one after another). In a nutshell, Philly Music Lessons can sometimes turn into a family affair (we love the brothers who played a duet on guitar and cello, and our Father-daughter trio from our Spring Recital!).

Of course there is always the simple gift for Dad – get him a set of new strings and some private lessons where he can quietly pursue his long held off dreams. He’s put aside his musical passions long enough, and its time to give him the chance to be a rock star… or a classical guru… or get on top of his dixieland, jazz clarinet chops. Contact us for joint-lesson rates, Father’s Day specials, or to set up a trial lesson. For more on what instruments we offer, check out our lessons and classes.

We’ve had some new additions to our cello teachers, and one of them is Fang Fang! Fang studied cello at Arizona State University and received her masters in cello performance. Her experience takes her from being a longtime student of cello herself to teaching and working in orchestras as an associate principal cello. She’s an expert in classical, with roots going back to lessons from her mother when she was 7. In addition to a career as a professional musician, Fang is also an accomplished teacher with award winning students. We managed to catch a snippet of her playing (video below). Also included is a piece performed at Arizona State (Sonata for cello in C major, op. 119 by Sergei Prokofiev).

Read about Fang Fang in her own words below.

I teach Cello and Piano. I have a Masters of Music in cello performance from Arizona State University. I have studied at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and received my B.A in cello performance in China. I began to play the piano when I was 5 years old, then began learning the cello from my mother when I was 7 years old. I am a professional cellist and have been working in various orchestras for the past 8 years as associate principal cello. In Phoenix, I played in the Scottsdale Philharmonic as principal cello. I have been teaching for 10 years, and have learned that patience and enthusiasm are necessary to keep students interested and eager to learn. I pride myself in finding the unique musical talents of each student, and finding ways to communicate with them on an individual level. One of my students in Eastern China was awarded the 1st Prize at a Cello Competition in 2011. My primary focus as a teacher is on classical music for the cello and piano. I am schooled in the Suzuki Method of teaching and find it to be an invaluable way of learning as a beginner.

Good morning! Here is an update on the summer schedule and open spots: As of today, the 10 AM Wednesday class is full, but there is space in the 11:30 class for drop-ins or those who intend to sign up as regulars. Please contact us to join or drop in, as we try to keep classes with a max of around 10 kids (we don’t turn people away, so if you’re in the neighborhood and want to try a class for FREE on a whim, just pop in Philly Music Lessons at 2111 East Susquehanna Ave., down the street from Soup Kitchen, Little Baby’s, and Pizza Brain).

These classes are mixed ages, which adds to the fun and variety of the group. Every age is different, and the babies and tots participate in different ways (some are up and about exploring, while others tune into the music). We encourage participation from all, including the mommas, papas, nannies, babysitters, grandparents, etc!

The routine varies a bit week to week. Generally, classes are broken down into sections to keep things moving and interesting – there’s a bit of exploration and background music as everyone arrives (with finger puppets, shakers, and assorted drums). We ease the group into things with a Hello Song (meet and greet with names), followed by a movement oriented warm up exploring high and low sounds (highlighting body parts along the way). We then move into some familiar, traditional kid’s songs, and next comes another active portion, allowing kids to move through the space with group circle songs (marches, dances, “ring around the rosy”, or jumping with songs). We finish off the class with 15 minutes of free play and more songs.

Along the way, we often introduce some colorful scarves and a few playful games. We add some drumming/tapping with rhythm sticks each class (its a big hit). Other typical props include jingle bells, slide whistles, bubbles or pinwheels for dance. An assortment of instruments accompany the free play (xylophones, shakers, drums, and other things to tinker with).

At the very end of class, each child gets to sit at the piano and for some listening and experimenting with the major scale using solfege (sung). This is a real highlight for everyone.

These music classes are fun for so many ages. If you’re curious about how ages differ, here’s been my experience: Babies tend to listen, relax, and observe. Crawlers certainly are getting into instruments and props – they begin to mimic hand games. Walkers love to learn the movements and partake in circle games. They’re also tend to become interested in other kids. 2-3 year olds really tune into some of the concepts and songs we learn (melodies with do-re-mi, call and response rhythm patterns, and high-low ideas played out with props or songs). They’re interested in participating in singing and chiming in with ideas. There is also an age where kids begin to find some independence (when they learn to move and walk), and they go through a phase of exploring the room – They may go in and out of being engaged with the group. As there are many stages of toddler-hood, baby-hood, and childhood, (which aren’t always predictable) we are very flexible – There are makeup options for sign ups, and we are always looking to work with families to make things easy and fun. We also understand if you have to leave class for any reason! If you have any questions about appropriateness of classes for your child, please contact us or come and try a music class for free to see how it goes.

After June, Tuesday 10 AM classes will resume. We are open to suggestions for alternative times (afternoons, earlier mornings, or alternative days). If you would like to attend classes, but don’t see a time that works, please let us know and we will look into holding new times.

If you have a child who is older than 3, they are still welcome to attend classes. On weekends, there tends to be a broader age range. We also have a Big Kid’s Class (4-6 years) and private lessons (typically age 4 and up). Group lessons are available to work a bit more in depth with kids who are younger than 4. There are always exceptions to the age rule as well. Our trial lessons are a good way to test the waters if you are unsure (1/2 priced starting at a half hour).

Spring Coffee House Recital May 30thWith Student Performances in Cello, Violin, Piano, and Guitar
At Philly Music Lessons, Fishtown

This weekend, we will be holding a salon-style recital at our space in Fishtown. Families and friends will gather starting at 3PM to support students of all ages and skill levels (some performing for the first time!). Guests can enjoy wine, cheese, and music during 3 sections of performances. This recital has given students of guitar, violin, cello, and piano the chance to dedicate themselves to a single piece of music, polishing it to performance quality. We applaud them for their work ahead of time and also look forward to hearing it all on Saturday.

Recitals are important milestones, and so we always try to document these events. Each performance is filmed for students and families to enjoy, share, and reflect upon afterwards. By now some of our students have a few recitals under their belts and will surely enjoy looking back!

Stay tuned for this Spring’s 2015 Coffee House Recital Highlights and for updates on the 2015 Fall Recital, which will take place at the Ethical Society on Rittenhouse Square in Center City, Philadelphia. Cheers, and good luck to our students!

Summer Packages!

On Saturday, May 30th, there will be an impromptu drop-in music class. FREE for First-Timers (as always), & aspecial $10 drop-in rate for all. Feel free to come on by! That afternoon, there will also be a recital at Philly Music Lessons for some of our older students, so you can feel free to swing by and have a listen starting at 3 PM (standing room only, wine & cheese too). There will be violin, piano, cello, and guitar performances! Then, Summer dates for Saturday Music will be as follows:

Summer Saturdays at 10 AM$56 for 7 Class PackageYou can still sign up per month at $10/class
drop in anytime for $15
(limited number of full summer packages).

Weekday classes will continue as usual on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 AM as well as Wednesdays at 11:30 AM. If you know you’ll be away for vacations, you can still participate as a monthly sign up with flexible options for vacation dates with notice. As always, drop-ins can attend classes at $15 by emailing in advance to check for room. For those regulars who know they’ll be with us throughout the summer, you can receive a discount by signing up for the whole thang! $100 for June, July, and August(includes an a Saturday Freebie). Please check out the calendar for dates and potential makeup Saturday classes (If you have two kids, the price is $150). You can still sign up per month throughout the summer as well.

Makeups:
If you miss your regular class time, you can always drop-in to other class times or scheduled Saturdays for makeups. Saturday regulars can receive credits for missed weekends.

If you have any questions about signing up or dropping in, please feel free to contact me via email at phillymusicbabies@gmail.com. If you want to learn more about baby and toddler music classes in Fishtown/Kensington, you can read more here.

Recent Testimonials

I have nothing but praise for Alex. I was somewhat anxious trying to pick up a new hobby playing the drums. My nervousness dissipated quickly with Alex's guidance. He tailors each lesson with handwritten exercises, appealing both to my interests and skill level, and I always leave feeling like my skills have improved.

Pat D.

Joe is a fantastic guitar teacher. My son and husband both take lessons from him, and we see him at our house every week. No matter what, he is always cheerful and kind. He is one of my favorite people in Philadelphia. He singlehandedly eased our transition to Philly from Seattle and we are so grateful. He is a true gem, not only as a teacher and musician, but as a person. He is flexible, creative, hard-working--an all around standout.

Gwen G.

My 12 year old daughter studies piano with Philly Music Lesson's Joe Primavera. As a professional musician himself, Joe brings a lot of resources to the table. He has a unique ability to engage our daughter with the instrument, firmly grounding her in classical piano technique while exploring the singer-songwriter genre. His respect for her musical voice and style is something that I have not always experienced with other teachers. He knows how to make the most of her abilities, while consistently coaching her to a higher level. Sessions at our home are something the entire family looks forward to. Joe brings his guitar to every lesson, and accompanies our daughter on the piano. He also uses technology where appropriate, employing a mobile device to play back songs that our daughter is learning, working with her to interpret them for the piano. The music lessons are like jam sessions with professional musicians. I would recommend Joe and this school to anyone who is interested in nurturing their unique talent and bringing it to a performance level.

Jesse G.

Joe is an excellent music teacher. He is very clear, attentive, and creative and makes the lessons and instruction feel fun and rewarding. My son is very excited about playing music.

Janet D.

I started taking lessons here because I wanted to pick up a new hobby and continue learning music even after school. My instructor Phil was super knowledgeable and very patient with me every lesson I had. If you're looking for a great guitar/banjo instructor, definitely ask for Phil! The staff at Philly Music Lessons are very responsive and accommodating when scheduling lessons. They really strive to make this a great place to learn and love your instrument!

Alisa W.

Follow Us!

Enter your email below to get updates and discounts from Philly Music Lessons.